Every family these days needs an internet safety officer. You know, the person that can be relied on to provide helpful advice should something on the web not sound or look quite right, fix minor technology issues or assist with any security-related questions that arise.
They don’t have to be an expert, but they usually have some kind of interest in or understanding of the things that can impact online safety.
Does anyone come to mind for you? We hope so. Especially if you have young children in your family who are learning their way around the great big juggernaut that is the internet.
And while the internet safety officer for your family may not (and should not!) be Puss over here, perhaps it is you? If so, we’re sure you’ve done the following at some point or another, right?
- Installed reliable security software on all the computers and mobile devices in your home. AVG Internet Security is an excellent option for PCs and laptops, and AVG AntiVirus FREE for Android™ can be used on smartphones and tablets. Using these programs and apps forms the basis of good internet safety. And if you want your family members to be even safer, there’s also AVG Family Safety® for iPhone and iPad (to protect kids from inappropriate content) and AVG Safe Browser (for secure web browsing).
- Ensured each family member has a secure password for each online account they use. This is one of the simplest and most effective ways of staying safe online – and it’s not impossible to do. In fact, it’s super-easy! Just have your family follow our simple back to basics guide for creating a secure password.
- Chatted with your family about internet safety issues. This can include anything from phishing scams and fake online competitions, to cyberbullying and trolling. Make sure everyone in your family has a basic understanding of what to do if they come across any of these, and that they feel comfortable discussing them. Keep the lines of communication open.
- Explained the dangers of social media and over-sharing. With the popularity of sites like Facebook and Twitter, it can often be a challenge to maintain online privacy. As the household internet safety officer, you don’t have to spy on your family’s social media activities, but you should encourage your family members to be careful about how much personal information they’re sharing via social networks. Disturbingly, child identity theft has become a problem in the online space, so make sure each person in your family has given adequate attention to their security settings and keeps their sensitive information private.
The Australian Government also has some great online resources you can use for gaining ideas on how to protect your household from cybercrime, as well as staying informed about important security issues. We recommend checking out the following:
The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Cybersmart site
The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy’s Stay Smart Online site
Then, there’s also:
The Australian Federal Police and Microsoft Australia’s Think U Know site
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s SCAMwatch site
AVG’s Digital Dairies research
With these fantastic tools, and our above tips, the role of internet safety officer should be a piece of cake!
On a final note though, we’d like to stress that it’s vital you trust your family online – especially if you’re the person looking after all things online safety in your home. By no means should you feel the need to monitor their every online move; just simply providing some support and advice along the way can make all the difference.
So, who takes charge of internet safety in your home, and how do they keep your family safe? Feel free to share your ideas with our community below. We’d love to hear them!
